Mission

The Mission of NJFA is to increase awareness of the diverse public benefits of forests; supporting the sustainable use of forest resources; promoting economic opportunity for forest landowners; and encouraging a viable local forest products industry.

 

One of the ways we strive to accomplish this Mission is by:

• Monitoring and influencing legislation and regulations that affect private landowners and the forestry community. 

Currently, we are monitoring and speaking out on over 93 legislative and regulatory issues that range from Farmland Assessment; Transfer Inheritance and Estate Taxes; Pests and Pathogens such as the Southern Pine Beetle that are attacking our forests; Sustainable Forest Stewardship legislation on both private and public lands; New Jersey's deer population; and rules and regulations that place a stranglehold on the right to practice forestry.

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On Saturday, March 3, landowners, foresters and tax assessors gathered together in Monroe Township at Forsgate County Club for the 37th Annual Meeting & Member Program of the New Jersey Forestry Association.  A summary of the meeting will be coming out soon, but in the meantime, click here for pictures from the event:  2012 Annual Meeting Photos

By Joyce Koch - New Jersey Woodland Steward - Class of 2010

 

Scientists point to forest destruction as one of the leading causes of climate change and species extinction. Meanwhile, economic progress is providing us with housing and development on a scale necessary accommodate a growing population and to fulfill the American Dream of home ownership.

 

A surprising 80% of U.S. households have a private lawn which totals up to a conservative estimate of 31 million acres of turf grass, an area equal to the New England States or eight New Jerseys. While the average size lawn is 1/3 acre, 5-7 acre zoning is not uncommon in rural areas where homeowners depend on well and septic. Often built on converted farm fields, developers provide new homeowners with cheap and easy turf grass to blanket the few inches of top soil they left behind. However, what comes next is an eternity of watering, fertilizing and mowing to maintain a monoculture which provides for no plant or animal diversity.

 

Because lawn grasses are of European origin which evolved and thrive at higher latitudes than most U.S. states, they require a bounty of chemical and water treatments to simulate their European homeland. We spend $25 billion a year coddling this carpet which prefers chilly fog and damp rains rather than hot August skies. We import petrochemicals to provide supplemental nutrients and pesticides to combat insects that would be controlled naturally in a balanced ecosystem. We commit up to 30% of our water resources for lawn irrigation. We have a garage full of edgers, spreaders, aerators, rollers, weed whackers, mowers from reel to rotary to four wheel drive rider models, sprayers, precision seeders, leaf blowers, hoses, sprinklers and other irrigation devices, not to mention grass seed specially designed for sun, shade or both, fertilizers in various formulations, insecticides, herbicides and fungicides.

 

Richard West died on January 23, 2012 at the age of 94. Professor West retired as Chair of the Forestry Program at Cook College, Rutgers University. Previously he had taught at Louisiana State University for eight years before coming to Rutgers. He earned a BS degree in forest management from Rutgers and a MS degree from Yale. He taught a variety of forestry courses at Cook, but wood tech was his specialty.

 

He lived in Monroe Village before moving to Florida in 2006. While a resident there he started planting trees on the property selecting the species, location and supervision of the planting. Because of this planting program, the Monroe Village Association resolved that the present arboretum on the Village grounds will be known hereafter as THE RICHARD WEST ABORETUM dated February 21, 2006.

 

Dick was a member of NJFA since 1975, was a director from 1986 to 2000, and president from 1986 to 1997. He wrote numerous articles for the New Jersey Woodlands and was co-editor for 18 years. He was a strong advocate of forestry and his influence will be sorely missed.

 

Eligibility

 

Nominee must be a New Jersey resident. Individuals or organizations may nominate themselves or be nominated by an outside party. Although award candidates need not be NJFA members, involvement with the NJFA and other civic pursuits is considered important. NJFA Directors are not eligible.

 

Nomination Procedure

 

Send a brief statement (not more than 500 words) on why you believe the nominee should receive the award. Along with this statement, send a biographical sketch of the nominee and the names and phone numbers of two individuals who will support the nomination.

 

Send nominations to:

NJFA - Vuocolo Award Nomination

PO Box 367

Flemington, NJ 08822

 

Award nominations can also be emailed to:

info@njforestry.org

 

The award will be presented at the next annual meeting of the NJFA